Ever since the implementation of sports in schools in the early 1900s, student-athletes have received several achievements and medals for their respective institutions; however, it is concerning that some students tend to give up due to overlapping training sessions and classes, and teachers who push them to do the work loads with little consideration.
To clarify, student-athletes have been carrying a heavy burden on their shoulders as some educators have been forcing them to pass all the required activities with no adjusted deadlines. According to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 41% of 1,766 student-athletes agreed that they did not receive any special treatment or consideration from their professors.
Indeed, student athletes are the unrecognized pillars of sports in the Philippines because that’s where it all started, right? Just like Alexandra Eala who was a student athlete in Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain and represented her country in the US open. Now, considering all the pressure and training they have to juggle with academics with no one to help them, how will they be able to do all the activities in just a short period of time?
Though these considerations and special activities are not required—with no law or order to support that teachers are entitled to give these student-athletes the consideration they are asking for, there’s no denying that having to face this kind of academic pressure and imbalance may result in depression and anxiety for these athletes.
In fact, according to the study conducted by Research Gate, academic pressure really helps to bring out the best outcome of the students but most of the time it often breaks the mental health of these students when they fail to take the overloads of academic pressure.
Despite being addressed to multiple schools like in Taytay, Rizal, some begged to disagree, this stubborn demand of undesirable standards they dared to impose means that they could not care less about the mental health of these student-athletes—instead prioritizing their own advantages. But the question still remains, what more do they need to prove themselves worthy to their teachers just to receive the consideration they’ve been longing for?
As it turns out, some students can undeniably excel in both sports and academics, along the lines of “kung kaya nga nila, dapat kaya niyo din” gave them enough reason to keep settling the same deadline for students who compete in sports and those who don’t. Although, it is still uncertain whether or not these considerations are really necessary for them to be able to catch up or just to escape the academic responsibilities they have, but even the smallest act of service can help them to achieve all the activities on time.
For some reason, the solution they try to provide is still far from what they need, continuously giving funds until 2024 and now cutting back to approximately 700 million pesos. Money isn’t what they need right now, but a bit of mercy from their teachers. They are not asking for something big, but just more time and attention to catch up, is it too much to ask for? As for once, the bigger picture needs to be seen, its effects are more than what is stated in this article but in order for this to be solved, the school isn’t the one who needs to act, but we as well.
To conclude, considerations in the first place should not be begged for, it should be given to show appreciation to their victories for fighting for their schools. If we keep on promoting this, we’re slowly killing the dreams of these student-athletes by flooding them with countless activities and drowning them with their training. The elephant in the rooms keeps on getting harder to ignore, the shout for fairness and help keeps on getting louder. By continuing this unjustifiable act is just the same as deteriorating the system they once trusted to protect them, they should remember that it is not their fault that their training is scheduled to the same deadline of some activities. Life-long solutions must be implemented to avoid this kind of problem from rising again. This fight is not just a battle between sports and academics, but a fight for fairness and equality.
Via Antonino Leonardo, Insight PH
To clarify, student-athletes have been carrying a heavy burden on their shoulders as some educators have been forcing them to pass all the required activities with no adjusted deadlines. According to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 41% of 1,766 student-athletes agreed that they did not receive any special treatment or consideration from their professors.
Indeed, student athletes are the unrecognized pillars of sports in the Philippines because that’s where it all started, right? Just like Alexandra Eala who was a student athlete in Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain and represented her country in the US open. Now, considering all the pressure and training they have to juggle with academics with no one to help them, how will they be able to do all the activities in just a short period of time?
Though these considerations and special activities are not required—with no law or order to support that teachers are entitled to give these student-athletes the consideration they are asking for, there’s no denying that having to face this kind of academic pressure and imbalance may result in depression and anxiety for these athletes.
In fact, according to the study conducted by Research Gate, academic pressure really helps to bring out the best outcome of the students but most of the time it often breaks the mental health of these students when they fail to take the overloads of academic pressure.
Despite being addressed to multiple schools like in Taytay, Rizal, some begged to disagree, this stubborn demand of undesirable standards they dared to impose means that they could not care less about the mental health of these student-athletes—instead prioritizing their own advantages. But the question still remains, what more do they need to prove themselves worthy to their teachers just to receive the consideration they’ve been longing for?
As it turns out, some students can undeniably excel in both sports and academics, along the lines of “kung kaya nga nila, dapat kaya niyo din” gave them enough reason to keep settling the same deadline for students who compete in sports and those who don’t. Although, it is still uncertain whether or not these considerations are really necessary for them to be able to catch up or just to escape the academic responsibilities they have, but even the smallest act of service can help them to achieve all the activities on time.
For some reason, the solution they try to provide is still far from what they need, continuously giving funds until 2024 and now cutting back to approximately 700 million pesos. Money isn’t what they need right now, but a bit of mercy from their teachers. They are not asking for something big, but just more time and attention to catch up, is it too much to ask for? As for once, the bigger picture needs to be seen, its effects are more than what is stated in this article but in order for this to be solved, the school isn’t the one who needs to act, but we as well.
To conclude, considerations in the first place should not be begged for, it should be given to show appreciation to their victories for fighting for their schools. If we keep on promoting this, we’re slowly killing the dreams of these student-athletes by flooding them with countless activities and drowning them with their training. The elephant in the rooms keeps on getting harder to ignore, the shout for fairness and help keeps on getting louder. By continuing this unjustifiable act is just the same as deteriorating the system they once trusted to protect them, they should remember that it is not their fault that their training is scheduled to the same deadline of some activities. Life-long solutions must be implemented to avoid this kind of problem from rising again. This fight is not just a battle between sports and academics, but a fight for fairness and equality.
Via Antonino Leonardo, Insight PH
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Written by Antonino Leonardo, Insight PH
Antonino Leonardo, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.